Sondhi Limthongkul

Thousands of supporters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held their first anti-government rally since their previous protests turned violent two weeks ago and were stopped by the army. Meanwhile, Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thaksin's chief critics, was released from a hospital under tight security, eight days after a brazen assassination attempt left bullet shards in his skull. The protest at Sanam Luang, a field near Bangkok's Grand Palace, drew about 5,000 people, as predicted by organizers but far short of the estimated 100,000 who turned out for a rally April 8. The protest was called Friday hours after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted a state of emergency imposed to deal with rioting that cut short a regional summit hosted by Thailand.

Thousands of supporters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held their first anti-government rally since their previous protests turned violent two weeks ago and were stopped by the army. Meanwhile, Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thaksin's chief critics, was released from a hospital under tight security, eight days after a brazen assassination attempt left bullet shards in his skull. The protest at Sanam Luang, a field near Bangkok's Grand Palace, drew about 5,000 people, as predicted by organizers but far short of the estimated 100,000 who turned out for a rally April 8. The protest was called Friday hours after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted a state of emergency imposed to deal with rioting that cut short a regional summit hosted by Thailand.

The founder of Thailand's "yellow shirt" protest movement, which was behind the weeklong occupation of Bangkok's main airports late last year, was shot and wounded early today, a spokesman said. A doctor at Vajira Hospital in Bangkok told reporters that Sondhi Limthongkul was undergoing surgery. Sondhi's car was attacked at a gas station near the country's central bank about 5 a.m., a spokesman for his People's Alliance for Democracy said.

The founder of Thailand's "yellow shirt" protest movement, which was behind the weeklong occupation of Bangkok's main airports late last year, was shot and wounded early today, a spokesman said. A doctor at Vajira Hospital in Bangkok told reporters that Sondhi Limthongkul was undergoing surgery. Sondhi's car was attacked at a gas station near the country's central bank about 5 a.m., a spokesman for his People's Alliance for Democracy said.

Tens of thousands of protesters cheered as a leading critic of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for him to step down for what he said was treasonous and corrupt behavior. Police said about 60,000 people took part in the rally, led by publisher Sondhi Limthongkul. Some media put the number at 100,000. It appeared to be Thailand's largest political protest since 1992, when demonstrations toppled a military-backed government.

Buzz Magazine Names New Editor: Deputy editor Marilyn Bethany will replace Allan Mayer, a co-founder of the Los Angeles-based magazine who resigned as editor Tuesday. Bethany, who oversaw style coverage at Buzz, said there would be no drastic changes in the money-losing magazine, which has witnessed several high-level resignations.

Allan Mayer, a co-founder of Buzz magazine, resigned as editor on Tuesday, reportedly over differences with a consultant hired by the Los Angeles publication's wealthy Thai owner. Mayer's resignation comes six months after another co-founder, Susan Gates, was forced out as publisher in a dispute involving management consultant Ned Kennan. With Mayer gone, only one of the magazine's co-founders, Eden Collinsworth, remains.

Susan Gates resigned as publisher of Buzz magazine Tuesday in what her successor called a disagreement over the direction of the 5-year-old Los Angeles publication. At the same time, the magazine announced unspecified plans for an expansion that is expected to include a foray into such unrelated services as home shopping. Allan Mayer, the magazine's new publisher, declined to discuss why Gates left, and she could not be reached for comment.

American Express is expected to announce as early as today the sale of its trendy L.A. Style magazine to the operators of Buzz, another Los Angeles-based magazine. Neither Buzz nor American Express would confirm the sale. A spokeswoman for Buzz would say only that the magazine plans an announcement this morning. Executives at L.A. Style did not return calls. It is unknown whether the monthly L.A. Style will continue publishing in the wake of the sale.

A protest group seeking to unseat Thailand's government was buoyed Thursday by court rulings that ordered insurrection charges dropped against its leaders and called for the authorities to use "soft means" to quell demonstrations. The court actions came after violent clashes Tuesday between police and protesters. Much of the media and professional and academic groups said the government had used unnecessary force.

More than 20 years ago, when Sondhi Limthongkul was a student at UCLA, he decided he didn't like the big city, and he left. Now he's back. Two months ago, the 43-year-old Thai media mogul revived Buzz magazine, which met its demise in February. And, just for good measure, he bought the Frye & Smith printing company in Costa Mesa, where the magazine will now be printed.